Fastening device



N 1934- G. A. TINNERMAN 1,981,973

msmnme DEVICE Original Filed 'Nv. 2:5, 1952 Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE I v 1,981,973- Q t 7 George A. Tinnerman,

Rocky River, Ohio, as-

signor to Albert H. Tinnerman, Cleveland, Ohio Original application November 23, 1932, Serial 1 Claim.

This invention relates to fastening devices and particularly to aspring clip which may be used for-holding conduits, electrical conductors and the like in place upon -a support. Heretofore, 5 .fastening devices for this purpose have necessitated the use of bolts and nuts and in addition, a metaliic clip which extended over the conduit and which was locked to the panel by the bolt. The present application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 643,981 filed Nov.

This procedure has entailed considerable expense, not only in the cost of'material but also in the cost of labor. Furthermore, the nuts are '15 .easily loosened particularly where the article is subjected to considerablevibration, such as on motor vehicle. An objectof the present invention therefore, is to provide a fastening device, which will-hold any article such as a conduit or conductor 01' rod in place against a panel without necessitating the use'ofthreaded fastening members and thelike.

A further object of my invention is to make a fastener, which I be readily'snapped into place and when. so oned will remain locked in place by a spring tension, notwithstanding the extent to which the article may be vibrated.

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown so a number of different forms in which a fastener 5; Fig. '7 is a vertical section taken through a fastening device embodying another modification of the invention; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a fastener embodying still another modification,

while Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9,9

in Fig. 8.

A fastener embodying. my inventionmay be" l indicated at 10 as having an opening 11 adjacent Divided and March 20,1933, Serial No. 661,766

this application the conduit 12 which is to be held againstthe face of the panel. The fastener has a portion thereof bent, as at 13, to extend partially around the conduit and has another portion bent to project through the opening in one direction,-and thence reversely back through the opening. The panel engaging portion thus has anarm 14 and an arm 15 which are normally urged away from each other by the spring tension of the .metal of which the fastener is made. ,To obtain alocking action against the panel, I'have shown the arm 14 as having shoulders 16 and 17 which en'- gage the opposite faces of the panel, and I have shown the arm 15, as having shoulders 18 and'19 for likewise engaging opposite faces of the panel. 701

The connecting portion 20 of the arms is shown as being V-shapedon this particular figure, but

if desired, it may be U-shaped or any other suitable form. ,In any eventthe distance between the outermost edges of the shoulders '1 7and'19- is such that the fastener may be pressed through the opening with one hand, while the other is pressed to hold the conduit ,'.in place until part 13 is forced into engagement therewith. During the assembly operation, the arm 15 pressed 8 against the arm 14 automatically by the passage j of the fastener through the opening so that the entire assembly may be completed by means, of

a single motion.

Referring now to the modification, which I have illustrated in the drawing, Fig. 4 shows a fastener that has a panel engaging portion similar to that shown in Fig; 1, but has an article engagin'gpor-- tion 30 which extends in the opposite direction to that illustrated in Fig.1. Thus, the conduit conceals the openings through which the fastener extends.

A modification illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises a fastener, which is made from a strip-of fiat ribbon wire and which has the panel engagE-TJQE ing portion 50 struck downwardly from the body portion 51. Such body portion is bent to provide an article engaging port 52 and to an arched port 53 that bears against the base of the panel. Y

The modificationof Fig. 7 may comprise a single ,strip of round or flat wire which has two shoulder portions 55 for engaging the face of the panel and whichhas a panel interlocking portion 56 that extends through the panel opening. 1

One shoulder portion is bent backwardly upon itself as at58toprovide an upper arch, and'is then bent at the free end thereof to provide an article engaging port 5'7. r

The form of fastener shown in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises a flat strip 60 which has a panel engagintegral unit, which simultaneously contacts an. article and locks-it against a panel or other suping portion 61 struck from the body portion thereof. Thebo'dy portion is arched to bear at one end against the panel and is bent at the oth'er end to form an article engaging port .62.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent that although I have'illustrated a number of modifications; each fastener comprises an port. It is also apparent that this locking action may be accomplished by means; of a single assembly movement, and that the member, when once locked'in place will be securely held.

leg which depends from the body portion, and the leg having two shoulders thereon for locking the fastener against a support.

GEORGE A. TINNERMAN. 

